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10 best college football games in October that will shape the playoff picture

By Christopher Novak

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley picks up yardage and squares off with Michigan safety Delano Hill (44) on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. Michigan won, 28-16. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times/TNS via Getty Images)
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley picks up yardage and squares off with Michigan safety Delano Hill (44) on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. Michigan won, 28-16. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times/TNS via Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – SEPTEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball during the game against the Murray State Racers at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – SEPTEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball during the game against the Murray State Racers at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

4. Louisville vs. NC State

Lamar Jackson’s chase for the Heisman Trophy in 2016 included an outstanding outing against NC State. Jackson went 20-34 for 355 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Jackson also added 76 yards on the ground with a rushing touchdown to boot. It was one of the four games of 350+ passing yards that he had in his historic Heisman-winning season.

Now, Jackson will have a chance for an encore this week against the NC State Wolfpack. This will certainly be an attention-grabbing game. With Clemson leading the pace, both Louisville and NC State are in need of big wins to stay with the defending National Champions. The Cardinals do, especially. They, of course, lost to Clemson already earlier this season. Avoiding an early 0-2 hole in ACC play would be imperative, especially with plenty of winnable games coming up.

NC State will hope to not make it look as easy and as effortless as it did for Jackson this time around. Bradley Chubb, in particular, may be out on the prowl. The senior defensive end already has 3.5 sacks this season and 7.5 tackles for loss. He may make life easy for Darian Roseboro, Kentavius Street and Justin Jones among others when they’re out on the field with him.

The Wolfpack and Cardinals square off on Thursday night in Raleigh. Thursday night affairs have proven to be wild and wacky in the past. This one, with all things considered, may be one of the most exciting of the month. And it’s the game that gets college football started in October, no less.

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